KUALA LUMPUR: The delay in the arrival of imported frozen chicken into Malaysia is due to the shortage of supply in the exporting countries, says Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah.

       He said as of March 7, around 4,000 metric tonnes of frozen chicken had been brought into the country by 14 companies with Import Permits (AP).

       “We were informed that there is a shortage of supply in Thailand and that the price is not competitive.

       “China is also facing a shortage and trying to get its supply from Thailand,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

       He said this in reply to a question from PAS’ Setiu MP Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir on the obstacles faced by companies bringing frozen chicken into the country.

       In December, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said that the government would import frozen chicken to meet local demand.

       Following that, the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry said the import of frozen chicken would be allowed for three months from December 2021 until February this year.

       Meating demand: A customer buying chicken at a wet market in Selayang, Selangor. — Bloomberg

       Ahmad said local poultry operators would not be affected by the import of frozen chicken as this would only be temporary until the domestic chicken supply was stable.

       “The number of total imports is small, covering 8.8% of consumer needs.

       “The average chicken demand in the country is 3,762 tonnes (2.1 million heads) per day or 113,220 tonnes (62.9 million heads) per month,” he said, according to Bernama.

       The government, he added, had also allocated RM528.52mil to ease the burden of local poultry farmers by providing egg subsidies from Feb 5 to June 5 this year.